Personal Level Research Articles

Cortico-cancellous osseointegration into additively manufactured titanium implants using a load-bearing femoral ovine model.

Introduction: Titanium-based implants can be used to fill voids in bone reconstruction surgery. Through additive manufacturing (AM), it is possible to produce titanium implants with osteoconductive properties such as high porosity and low stiffness. AM facilitates a level of design flexibility and personalization that is not feasible with traditional techniques. Methods: In this study, osseointegration into titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) lattices was investigated for 12weeks post-implantation using a novel bicortical load-bearing ovine model. The objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of AM-fabricated implants using two lattice structures of contrasting stiffness spanning the full width of the femoral condyle. Results: This was achieved by evaluating implant osseointegration and bone-implant contact properties by histomorphometry, scoring local implant tissue responses via histopathology, and micro-computed tomography reconstruction. Discussion: We found that Ti-6Al-4V implants facilitated widespread and extensive osseointegration, with bone maturation ongoing at the conclusion of the trial period. Following the implantation period, no adverse clinical indications that could be directly ascribed to the presence of the implanted device were identified, as determined by macroscopic and microscopic observation.

Downward social comparison positively promotes altruism: the multi-mediating roles of belief in a just world and general life satisfaction.

This study examined the underlying mechanism of the relationship between downward social comparison (DSC) and altruism through two conceptually important but rarely studied factors: belief in a just world (BJW) and general life satisfaction (GLS). The study utilized a two-time-point design, spaced 2 months apart, with a sample of 1,764 college students from China. The study measured DSC, altruism, BJW, and GLS. The findings revealed a significant positive predictive effect of DSC on college students' altruism and belief in a just world (BJW). Notably, GLS emerged as a multi-mediating factor in this relationship. The study also revealed that both subscales of BJW, namely personal belief in a just world (PBJW) and general belief in a just world (GBJW), played distinct roles in the mediation model. PBJW exhibited a stronger mediating effect, suggesting that DSC can foster individual altruism and BJW. Particularly, BJW was identified as enhancing GLS, subsequently promoting altruistic behavior. This study contributes to the existing literature on social comparison by shedding light on the relationship between DSC, altruism, and the mediating role of belief in a just world and GLS. The findings underscore the potential for promoting altruistic behavior among college students through interventions targeting beliefs in a just world, especially at the personal level, and enhancing GLS.

Profil Penjelasan Ilmiah Siswa SMA pada Materi Sistem Peredaran Darah Manusia

This study aims to determine the profile of scientific explanation ability of high school students, especially on the material of the human circulatory system. The type of research used is quantitative research with survey methods shared through google forms. The subjects of the study were high school students who had received human circulation system material in one of several schools in Central Java, the research sample was selected through random sampling techniques from the population. The research instrument used was adapted from McNeill, Lizotte, Krajcik, and Marx (2016) which consisted of 9 long answer questions to be able to determine the success of aspects of claim, evidence, and reasoning in scientific explanation. The instrument has been declared valid and reliable through Rasch Model testing. The research data is in the form of scores from student answers which are then processed through the Rasch Model to determine the level of difficulty and wright map person (students) to find out the profile of each student's scientific explanation ability. The results showed that 78% of students were still at the lower middle level in compiling the three aspects of scientific explanation, and only 12% of students were able to achieve maximum scores in the preparation of claims, evidence, and reasoning.

Supplemental Material for First Psychometric Evaluation of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale—Brief Form 2.0 in Adolescents

Supplemental Material for First Psychometric Evaluation of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale—Brief Form 2.0 in Adolescents

Navigating new norms: Essay and personal reflections on gender identity and affirming care

AbstractGender‐affirming care saves lives. Research indicates that social interventions such as name/pronoun changes and medical interventions such as hormone therapy directly benefit youth and adolescents and can be a protective factor for the maladaptive effects of gender dysphoria and the all‐too‐common associated depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. This piece takes personal experiences supporting a sibling through their transition as well as the professional experiences garnered to comment on the impact of gender‐affirming care on a more personal level.

Relationship between perceived organisational support, self-efficacy, proactive personality and career self-management among nurses: a moderated mediation analysis

ObjectivesCareer self-management is believed to be a critical behaviour in the new career era. However, the underlying mechanisms that stimulate nurses’ career self-management are unclear. The aim of this study...

Beneficial effect of residential greenness on sperm quality and the role of air pollution: A multicenter population-based study

BackgroundPoor sperm quality is a major cause of male infertility. However, evidence remains scarce on how greenness affects male sperm quality. ObjectivesTo assess the associations of residential greenness with male sperm quality and the modification effect of air pollution exposure on the relationship. MethodsA total of 78,742 samples from 33,184 sperm donors from 6 regions across China during 2014–2020 were included and analyzed. Individual residential greenness exposures of study subjects were estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) during the entire (0–90 lag days) and two key stages (0–37, and 34–77 lag days) of sperm development. Contemporaneous personal exposure levels to air pollutants were estimated using a spatio-temporal deep learning method. Linear mixed models were employed to assess the impact of greenspace in relation to sperm quality. The modification effect of air pollution on the greenspace-sperm quality relationship was also estimated. ResultsPer IQR increment in NDVI exposure throughout spermatogenesis were statistically associated with increasing sperm count by 0.0122 (95 % CI: 0.0007, 0.0237), progressive motility by 0.0162 (95 % CI: 0.0045, 0.0280), and total motility by 0.0147 (95 % CI: 0.0014, 0.0281), respectively. Similar results were observed when the model added air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5 or O3) for adjustment. Additionally, specific air pollutants, including PM1, PM2.5, and O3, were found to modify this association. Notably, the protective effects of greenness exposure were more pronounced at higher concentrations of PM1 and PM2.5 and lower concentrations of O3 (all Pinteraction < 0.05). Statistically significant positive effects of NDVI were observed on sperm motility in early spermatogenesis and sperm count in late spermatogenesis. ConclusionsExposure to residential greenness may have beneficial effects on sperm quality and air pollution modifies their relationship. These findings highlight the importance of adopting adaptable urban greenspace planning and policies to safeguard male fertility against environmental factors.

Fragrance chemicals in nail salons: Personal inhalation exposures and potential sources

The indoor air of nail salons is full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which have fragrances. Little is known about the fragrance chemicals in nail salons, as fragrance ingredients are not required on nail product labels and are considered trade secrets. This study aimed to identify fragrance chemicals and their potential sources and exposures in nail salons. Indoor air samples were collected in seven nail salons in the Greater Boston Area between November 2016 and June 2017. Personal samples were also collected from ten nail salon workers during their work shifts. Follow-up area sampling was performed in two salons one year after the initial visits. All air samples were collected using thermal desorption (TD) tubes and analyzed on a TD-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system targeting 55 fragrance chemicals. Eighteen compounds were detected in air samples, including terpenes, alcohols, carbonyls, ethers, and esters. The concentrations displayed limited spatial variation within a salon but moderate variation over time. The highest median personal inhalation concentrations were benzaldehyde (36.4 μg/m3), 2-ethylhexanol (30.0 μg/m3), d-limonene (16.6 μg/m3), and 2-butoxyethanol (12.6 μg/m3). Highest personal levels were reached by maximum concentrations of 2-butoxyethanol (<1611 μg/m3)), d-limonene (<413 μg/m3), and methyl salicylate (<113.5 μg/m3). Personal concentrations of most compounds were highly correlated with area concentrations (Spearman correlations = 0.69−0.92). Fragrance concentrations from area and personal air samples did not correlate significantly with the ventilation rate. Cleaning agents, personal care products, and nail products were identified as important possible emission sources. This study reveals a subset of fragrance chemicals in nail salons’ indoor air and calls for future research on a full spectrum of these chemicals, their health effects among nail salon workers, and ways to reduce these exposures.

The implication of the illness metaphors of In America: Mitigating negative effects of metaphors through illness narratives in the postpandemic era of COVID-19

Susan Sontag’s cancer experience made her realize the harm that the inappropriate use of illness metaphors might do to patients. After recovering from breast cancer, she wrote in Illness as Metaphor that illness has been romanticized and stigmatized. She also elaborated on some illness metaphors, such as the military metaphors for illness, which are still the subject of debate. Her novel In America could be regarded as an elaboration on the consequences of such metaphors. The phenomena she depicts in her novel are now visible twenty years later in the real world. Through analysing the personal experiences of the protagonists Maryna and Ryszard of In America, three levels of trauma caused by the illness metaphors used in negative ways are elucidated in this paper: the personal level, the social level, and the national level. Patients and their relations, health care workers, and even countries, such as China, have been hurt by these metaphors. Therefore, to avoid causing harm to more people, it is necessary to alleviate the negative effects of the inappropriate use of illness metaphors, especially in the postpandemic era of COVID-19. The illness narrative is a good way to mitigate the traumas caused by the inappropriate use of illness metaphors. This article attempts to explore the metaphorization of illness, the traumas caused by the inappropriate use of illness metaphors, and the occurrence of similar phenomena during and after COVID-19. The plot of In America is also explored as an illness narrative, and the illness narrative genre is examined as a way to mitigate the negative effects of the inappropriate use of illness metaphors.

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs and utilisation of health services in the Bono East Region, Ghana

BackgroundAdolescents in Ghana are vulnerable to unequal power relations at the personal, community and structural levels which in turn limits their opportunities in access to critical sexual and reproductive health information and services. There is therefore high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services and the Bono East region typifies this situation, recording some of the poorest SRHR outcomes among adolescents. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the SRH needs (unmet), behaviors and utilization of SRH services among adolescents in the Bono East region.MethodsUsing a maximum variation sampling approach, this qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews and focused group discussions with adolescent boys and girls, parents, community leaders, and healthcare providers.ResultsOur findings are presented under two broad categories: major SRHR concerns of adolescents, and perspectives about that influences adolescents’ utilization of SRHR services. Under the major SRHR need of adolescents, the following themes emerged: information and services on pregnancy prevention, menstrual hygiene management, availability of comprehensive abortion care services, and attitudes towards adolescent pregnancy. The perspectives about the factors that influence adolescent children were discussed at multiple levels: individual/personal. interpersonal and community/societal. At the individual level, limited understanding of adolescence/puberty, desire of adolescents to belong and misperceptions about contraceptives. At the interpersonal level, issues relating to technical capacity needs of service providers, disrespect exhibited by service providers, and parental failure were identified as influential factors. Then at the community/societal level, we identified structural constraints and compromised social safety concerns in accessing contraceptives and services.ConclusionIn conclusion, the findings from this study offer valuable insights into the complex landscape of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Bono East region. The implications for policy and practice are manifold, ranging from comprehensive education to addressing menstrual hygiene, involving parents, training healthcare providers, and promoting respectful care.

Moving Beyond Compliance and Toward Equity to Address Racial Disproportionality

The rights of approximately seven million students with disabilities in the United States are secured via the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Despite these protections, consequential inequities still need to be addressed. Racialized inequities in special education outcomes persist across classifications, placements, and disciplinary outcomes—often referred to as racial disproportionality. The disjuncture between the promises of IDEA and persistent racial disparities highlights an equity dilemma. We tackle this dilemma and provide recommendations for educators to move beyond IDEA compliance and toward equity when addressing racial disproportionality. We discuss how efforts to address the inequity can be re-imagined across personal, classroom, and system levels. We provide three broad recommendations responsive to IDEA provisions and the myriad of root causes contributing to racial disproportionality.

Fantasy strolling beyond the stage: A study of fan-culture geography of the Takarazuka Revue

ABSTRACT The Takarazuka Revue is commonly differentiated from other Japanese theatres based on their gendered stage performances and distinct relations between the performers and their patrons. So far, little research has been conducted on Takarazuka’s fan culture beyond the prism of a theatre performance and performer/fan relationships, especially when it comes to issues such as locality, fan tourism, or fans’ consumer practices that are not limited to the activities of fan clubs. Looking at Takarazuka from the perspective of the imagined core of Takarazuka fan culture offers us a glimpse into the reasons for the unprecedented popularity of this establishment: the fantasy beyond the stage. Drawing on ethnographic data from fieldwork conducted in Takarazuka City and interview data with Takarazuka fans, this article examines Takarazuka fans’ perceptions of Takarazuka Revue’s birthplace, the core of Takarazuka City, and the landscape surrounding its home-theatre, the Takarazuka Grand Theatre. I explore how past memories, lived experiences, and personal encounters of individual fans transform an urban neighbourhood into a shared fantasy surpassing the theatre stage; an embodied space characterised by movement, liminality, and affect, which is hidden behind the idea of the “Takarazuka space”. I argue that Takarazuka fans’ awareness of the ubiquitous Takarazuka space on both communal and personal levels signifies a multi-layered fantasy which exceeds the expectations of theatregoing practices, and provides us insight into the way local theatres within urban landscapes have the potential to shape individual fan identities and promote the creation of fan networks.

Case Study of Inovative Digital Technology in the Application of tourism services in the Food and Beverage Segment at the location of Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Jakarta

This research discusses implementing innovative digital technology at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Jakarta, which combines cultural richness with modern concepts. Using a qualitative approach and case studies, this research aims to understand this phenomenon in-depth. Data analysis is done inductively to identify patterns, themes, and relationships among various aspects emerging from the collected data. The results show that the use of digital technology in the food and beverage segment of tourism services at Galeri Indonesia Kaya has had a significant positive impact. This technology improves operational efficiency, service quality, and provides a more personalised experience for visitors. Visitors' response to informative and interactive digital menus is also very positive. In conclusion, the use of digital technology in tourism services at Galeri Indonesia Kaya has brought significant positive impacts, improving operational efficiency, service quality, and visitor experiences on a personal level.

An Analysis of the Big Five Personality (OCEAN) on The Characters in Garth Jenning's Movie Sing

The big five personalities, such as conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness to experience, and extraversion, displayed by each character in the movie Sing. It provides insight into how to achieve goals and dreams despite numerous challenges in life, which makes it interesting to investigate. This objective of this research is to investigate the Big Five Personality of the characters in the movie Sing. This study takes a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive qualitative analysis and content analysis, where scenes and speech from the movie were analyzed to discover and categorize the characters' personality qualities. The research findings on the Big Five personality traits in the movie Sing stated that extraversion reaches at 12.5%, while neuroticism, agreeableness and openness to experience each getting at 18.75%, and conscientiousness at 31.25%. The analysis of the Big Five Personality types in the movie finds a variety of characters embodying distinct features. Buster Moon exemplifies Extraversion, reaching at 12.5% of the attributes and showing a moderate level of friendliness and outgoing personality. Meena and Buster Moon both exhibit Neuroticism, reaching at 18.75% of their characters and emphasizing emotional depth and sensitivity. Rosita and Buster Moon embody Agreeableness to the same percentage as Neuroticism and openness to experience, stressing compassion and empathy throughout their interactions. Johny, Meena, and Buster Moon stand out in Conscientiousness, getting at 31.25% and demonstrating organizational and dependability. Johny and Buster Moon also have an Openness to Experience of 18.75%, indicating a willingness to explore new ideas and engage in creative efforts. Overall, this extensive analysis provides valuable insight into the diverse personalities shown in the movie Sing, expanding our understanding of how the Big Five Personality impact the characters' behaviors and interactions in the movie

Classification of gait variation under mental workload in big five personalities

BackgroundHuman behavior patterns involve mutual interactions among psychology, physiology, and stress, which are all associated with gait at different grades. Research questionsThe study aims to reveal the interrelationship among personality, mental workload, and gait patterns by capturing gait variations using inertial sensors. It also assesses individual personality traits and simulates stress to construct a gait classification model. MethodsSixty participants were instructed to perform regular, low, and high mental workload walking on the corridor to simulate a natural setting walking. Meanwhile inertial measurement units (IMUs) were placed on eight body parts. Mental workload was induced using the auditory n-back task, and their Big Five personality traits were evaluated. Gait data from IMUs were categorized into nine classifications of average, low, and high Big Five Inventory scores with three levels of mental workload walking. Subsequently, the segmentation gait data were used as input features for classifications in deep learning models, employing a sliding window long short-term memory network for nine classifications for different personality dimensions. ResultsThe results indicated average accuracies of nine classifications were 83.6 % for Openness, 84.4 % for Conscientiousness, 82.0 % for Extraversion, 85.2 % for Agreeableness, and 84.5 % for Neuroticism across all IMU placements. Remarkably, gait data from the lower back IMU achieved the highest model performance, with an average accuracy of 92.7 %, in classifying the different levels of personality and mental workload walking. In contrast, the left wrist and chest showed several misclassifications among regular, low, and high mental workload walking across personality traits. SignificanceSuccessful classification can help monitor an individual's mental state in real time and analyze personality dimensions, providing feedback and suggestions. The present study demonstrated that gait characteristics can contribute to more profound and personalized health information.

From the Socio-Psychological Aspects of Digitalization to the Reflection of the Nature of the Word Phenomenon

In connection with the ongoing processes of social transformation, informatization and digitalization, there is a tendency to increase emotional tension and anxiety in society. Studies of the impact of digitalization on the security of the individual and society, analysis of the positive and negative aspects of digitalization are relevant. Part of the population is afraid of depersonalization, replacing the name with a digital code. Against this background, the search for a philosophical understanding of the word, as well as the name, is actualized in a comparative analysis with a digit and a digital designation, the problem of attention to the word as a spiritual phenomenon and cultural historical value is posed. Thus, the process of digitalization is a complex cultural, historical and socio-psychological phenomenon. At the personal level, the realization of personal freedom and responsibility in choosing worldview values and aspirations contributes to reducing frustration in an era of change, at the social level it is important to maintain the priority of spiritual values and meanings, where the word should remain as the highest ability that distinguishes a person from the world of animals and things.

Developing a framework for understanding policy decision-making behaviors in the transition of an HIV prevention program towards sustainability: a case study from Zambia’s voluntary medical male circumcision program

Faced with declining donor funding for HIV, low- and middle-income countries must identify efficient and cost-effective ways to integrate HIV prevention programs into public health systems for long-term sustainability. In Zambia, donor support to the voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program, which previously funded non-governmental organizations as implementing partners, is increasingly being directed through government structures instead. We developed a framework to understand how the behaviors of individual decision-makers within the government could be barriers to this transition. We interviewed key stakeholders from the national, provincial, and district levels of the Ministry of Health, and from donors and partners funding and implementing Zambia’s VMMC program, exploring the decisions required to attain a sustainable VMMC program and the behavioral dynamics involved at personal and institutional levels. Using pattern identification and theme matching to analyze the content of the responses, we derived three core decision-making phases in the transition to a sustainable VMMC program: 1) developing an alternative funding strategy, 2) developing a policy for early-infant (0–2 months) and early-adolescent (15–17 years) male circumcision, which is crucial to sustainable HIV prevention; and 3) identifying integrated and efficient implementation models. We formulated a framework showing how, in each phase, a range of behavioral dynamics can form barriers that hinder effective decision-making among stakeholders at the same level (e.g., national ministries and donors) or across levels (e.g., national, provincial and district). Our research methodology and the resulting framework offer a systematic approach for in-depth investigations into organizational decision-making in public health programs, as well as development programs beyond VMMC and HIV prevention. It provides the insights necessary to map organizational development and policy-making transition plans to sustainability, by explaining tangible factors such as organizational processes and systems, as well as intangibles such as the behaviors of policymakers and institutional actors.

Virtual Experience Toolkit: An End-to-End Automated 3D Scene Virtualization Framework Implementing Computer Vision Techniques.

Virtualization plays a critical role in enriching the user experience in Virtual Reality (VR) by offering heightened realism, increased immersion, safer navigation, and newly achievable levels of interaction and personalization, specifically in indoor environments. Traditionally, the creation of virtual content has fallen under one of two broad categories: manual methods crafted by graphic designers, which are labor-intensive and sometimes lack precision; traditional Computer Vision (CV) and Deep Learning (DL) frameworks that frequently result in semi-automatic and complex solutions, lacking a unified framework for both 3D reconstruction and scene understanding, often missing a fully interactive representation of the objects and neglecting their appearance. To address these diverse challenges and limitations, we introduce the Virtual Experience Toolkit (VET), an automated and user-friendly framework that utilizes DL and advanced CV techniques to efficiently and accurately virtualize real-world indoor scenarios. The key features of VET are the use of ScanNotate, a retrieval and alignment tool that enhances the precision and efficiency of its precursor, supported by upgrades such as a preprocessing step to make it fully automatic and a preselection of a reduced list of CAD to speed up the process, and the implementation in a user-friendly and fully automatic Unity3D application that guides the users through the whole pipeline and concludes in a fully interactive and customizable 3D scene. The efficacy of VET is demonstrated using a diversified dataset of virtualized 3D indoor scenarios, supplementing the ScanNet dataset.

Health informatics to enhance the healthcare industry's culture: An extensive analysis of its features, contributions, applications and limitations

BackgroundHealth informatics is a fast-growing area in the healthcare sector. It concerns the technologies, tools, equipment, and procedures required to gather, store, retrieve, and use health data and medical data. Healthcare informatics provides patients, nurses, hospital administrators, physicians, insurance providers, and other stakeholders with electronic access to medical records through health information technologies (HIT). Health informatics combines nursing science with data science and analytical disciplines to gather, handle, interpret, and convey data, bringing together specialists and making health information accessible and meaningful. MethodsThis research is an outcome of an extensive scopic review, which has been conducted by identifying research and development through search keywords such as “Health informatics,” “Technologies,” and “Healthcare” from databases of Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and other research platforms. Further, the most relevant papers are identified and studied. FindingsThis paper explores health informatics, its technologies, and their need in the present healthcare domain. It also identifies vital aspects, characteristics, and versatile contributions of health informatics to the healthcare sector. Further, the paper identifies and discusses significant health informatics applications in the healthcare field. Patients' health information can be effectively analysed individually or in groups using health informatics technologies to meet diverse requirements. InterpretationEffective use of health informatics improves practice management as information is quickly shared among healthcare professionals, patients and other stakeholders. Healthcare informatics specialists' knowledge of utilising data to assist choice-making and creating best practices. It enables healthcare organisations to identify specific data offering the appropriate information for the given therapy, procedure, or training. Informatics in healthcare also addresses issues at the macro level of the organisation and also at the personal level of patient care via innovative technologies and best practices.

Collaborative competences for agile public servants: A case study on public sector innovation fellowships

In times of crisis and with the increase of new ways of working, public sector organisations increasingly include agile practices in their working practices. To successfully transform public sector organisations into agile organisations, public servants require a new set of competences. Informal learning is a key element that helps public servants to build and apply these competences, e.g., through the collaboration with external experts in public sector innovation fellowships. To observe how collaborative competences for agile public organisations can be developed successfully by involving external experts, I conducted a case study on two iterations of a public sector innovation fellowship. My findings show that throughout the fellowships, competences are being developed in a collaborative process on a personal and organisational level. The practical application of the learned methods, personal reflection, and the development of organisational networks transform the collaborative into a learning process, allowing public servants to develop new competences and bring them into their organisation.